Math fluency refers to the ability to quickly and accurately solve math problems, including basic facts or more complex computations. It is a foundational skill that builds on conceptual understanding, strategic reasoning, and problem-solving to achieve automaticity. Math fact fluency, which is the ability to quickly and accurately recall the answer to basic math facts, is a part of math fluency.

Math fact fluency is important because it frees up brainpower or working memory to do more complex mathematical work, like figuring out how to structure a multistep word problem, model a solution, or puzzle out systems of equations. Research finds that fluency in basic math facts is linked with progress in later grades; multiplication, in particular, is linked to success with fractions, a common tripping-up point for many young students.

Math fluency should involve more than speed and accuracy. It must reach beyond procedures and computation. Students exhibit computational fluency when they demonstrate flexibility in the computational methods they choose, understand and can explain these methods, and produce accurate answers efficiently. The computational methods that a student uses should be based on mathematical ideas that the student understands well, including the structure of the base-ten number system, properties of multiplication and division, and number relationships.

In summary, math fluency is the ability to quickly and accurately solve math problems, including basic facts or more complex computations. Math fact fluency is a part of math fluency and is important because it frees up brainpower or working memory to do more complex mathematical work. Math fluency should involve more than speed and accuracy and should be based on mathematical ideas that the student understands well.